"If I could keep you little..."

There's a book I've been reading to Dylan the past few weeks, it's called "If I Could Keep You Little". I don't think I have ever gotten through the entire book without getting a little choked up for some reason. It is so sweet and I hold and squeeze him tight every time I read it; when I read it I feel like it's saying everything I always think. Even though i'm sure when the time comes it will be just as enjoyable, but when I think of him grown up and not needing to depend on me anymore or letting me kiss him to death I get a little sad. Geno always teases me and reminds me that he's only 7 months old and that I still have a long time to go when I start to tear up about him graduating, moving out, or getting married. (what?! he's already 7 months old!) Jen and I have already decided that when the time comes we might try to secretly arrange for our boys to marry girls who have no family around or orphans so that they don't leave us hahahaha....kind of. What ever happened to months 4 to 6?! I remember him being 3 months and just realized he's 7 now when I tried to see if his 3-6 months clothes would fit him! I guess I'm in denial. Which must be why i'm still trying to stuff him in his bassinet!

For now, i'm trying to enjoy every minute since it is already going by too fast. The best feeling in the world sometimes just consist of taking a nap together and snuggling. My husband snuck in the room the other day and took a couple pictures of me in bliss, with my little man Dylan, when we were napping. 

"If I could keep you little, I'd keep you close to me. But then I'd miss you growing into who you're meant to be!"
-Marianne Richmond

Anticipation (that "Christmas Eve feeling")

Someone told me recently that you never realize how many first times there are in life. Being able to see Dylan experience so many of his firsts each day or week is truly such a privilege. It's amazing and so enjoyable to see his reactions as he felt sand for his first time in between his tiny toes (or how it tasted!), when he saw the waves crashing in front of him and felt the cool ocean water hit his perfect little legs, when he discovered how to use that dang sippy cup, or when he discovered balloons for his first time among many others. I never thought i'd get as excited as I get when I know he's going to be doing something for his first time or new. I like to compare it to my "Christmas Eve feeling". You know...that super excited feeling you get when you know you have some kind of big event or something going on the next day and you think about it before you go to bed and as soon as you wake up. Even when it's something that may seem small, i'll wake up thinking "man...why do I feel like I have something exciting going on today?...Oh yea! Dylan's going to try a new fruit today! Or try his high chair for the first time! Or get to ride the shopping cart seat for his first time!"

I can't wait to be there to experience many many more of my little guy's firsts in life! Being a mom has given me a whole new perspective on what I have to look forward to. Here are just a few of his firsts...

first laugh

first Christmas

first time on the beach

first time using his sippy cup

first Halloween trick or treating

first time sitting in shopping cart and first balloon! (his first Valentine!)